Yes on the Peepers.
And Bernd Heinrich spends a bit of time in his book on Summer talking about plants that are "tricked" into flowering again in the fall -- presumably by the day length. As I recall, he was curious about whether the phenomenon might or might not have an evolutionary advantage -- he couldn't think of one, but reminded readers that nature's adaptations are not always obvious.
Peenting in the fall could have the advantage of alerting concerned birders to the presence of Woodcocks on lands that need to be protected -- the early development of a dog-human type symbiotic relationship. I can see people in the future, walking their Woodcocks along Madison Avenue dressed in the latest Burberry's Woodcock walking coat.
Great word, Larry -- Recrudescence! Sounds like something we should be doing with used motor oil -- re-crudeing it.
Scott
On Nov 10, 2011, at 8:40 AM, Larry Clarfeld wrote:
> Hi VTBirders,
>
> I've heard this phenomenon referred to as Autumnal Recrudescence, and it is
> caused by the day length this time of year being similar to the day length
> in spring when Woodcocks are *supposed to* be peenting. This affects other
> taxon besides birds... anyone else ever hear Spring Peepers making noise in
> the fall?
>
> Good birding,
> - Larry
>
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 6:39 AM, Mary and Ken Spencer <
> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Jeannie, I heard this two evenings ago behind my home in Duxbury, but
>> decided I had to be wrong. Now, I am even more sure that I wasn't
>> mistaken. But then I have a primrose (May bloomer) in bloom now also....
>> Mary Spencer
>> On Nov 10, 2011, at 6:10 AM, Jeannie Elias wrote:
>>
>>> Hard to believe it, but I just heard WOODCOCKS PEENTING here in Fayston!
>> I thought they only did that in the Spring. Any thoughts? Last night at
>> around 8:30 I had heard the twittering flight noises of WOODCOCKS and was
>> surprised, but this morning's PEENTING really has me scratching my head.
>>> Jeannie Elias
>>> Two Dog Mountain
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> discuss mailing list
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>> http://madbirders.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Larry Clarfeld
> Environmental Educator
> Youth Birding Coordinator
>
> North Branch Nature Center
> 713 Elm St.
> Montpelier, VT 05602
>
> www.NorthBranchNatureCenter.org
> (802) 229-6206
> [log in to unmask]
>